MP3 Insider

With Jasmine out on vacation, Donald brings CNET Labs' Eric Franklin into the studio for an epic nerd session on audio quality measurements, including recent test data from the Zune HD and iPod Touch. We've got charts, folks!

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Subscribe in iTunes audio |  Subscribe in iTunes video | Subscribe in RSS audio |  Subscribe in RSS video

... Read more

Need to charge your Zune HD in the car and transmit to your FM radio? The Zune Car Pack has you covered.

(Credit: Microsoft)

The Zune HD represents a big step forward in Microsoft's war against the iPod, but when it comes to accessories, there's just no catching up to Apple. Step inside any local electronics store and you'll find yourself wading through a swamp of speaker docks, cases, cables, chargers, in-car FM transmitters, and alarm clocks, all made for the iPod. Try looking for the Zune section, though, and you'll be sorely disappointed.

Fortunately, the handful of accessories made for the Zune are all surprisingly high in quality. The iHome ZN9 alarm clock, for instance, is one of the better bedside speaker systems we've tested, regardless of what MP3 player you plug into it. Same goes for the Kicker ZK500--the thing is a first-rate, floor-shaking speaker dock that any Zune owner should count themselves lucky to have.

Some accessories are uniquely Zune, though. The HD AV dock, for example, has no equal in the iPod world. With it, you can output 720p video from your Zune HD to your TV, as well as show off your music collection, flip through photos, and tune in to HD Radio channels.

To see our full list of Zune HD accessories, check out this CNET photo gallery.

Accessories for the Microsoft Zune HD

Jasmine and Donald are terribly tired of the Zune HD and iPod Touch, but there's nothing else to talk about (besides the wonders of fried food), so consider yourself warned. On the plus side, a cranky Jasmine is an entertaining one as she expounds upon the objectivity of spec-to-spec comparisons. Also up: Donald calls out some worthy Zune HD accessories, and several loyal listeners get to hear their musings read on the air.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Subscribe in iTunes audio |  Subscribe in iTunes video | Subscribe in RSS audio |  Subscribe in RSS video

... Read more

OK, so my official CNET review of the Zune HD is up and running over at CNET Reviews. It's worth checking out, but if you don't feel like taking 10 minutes out of your day to soak it all in, then I'll make it real clear to you with just two sentences:

Buy the Zune HD if you love music.
Buy an iPod for everything else.

That's it. And I don't mean for that to sound dramatic, condescending, or pro-Apple or pro-Microsoft. If we met on the street and you asked me "iPod or Zune?", then that's the answer you'd hear from me. The Zune HD does a phenomenal job showcasing and organizing music in a way that invites exploration and interaction. And if you have the extra $14.99 per month to throw at a Zune Pass music subscription, then welcome to the music orgy.

The problem is, I'm not sure how many people really love music. ... Read more

On this, the day of the Zune HD, Donald and Jasmine naturally talk about the now-available player and its updated Zune Software and Marketplace. But the day would not be complete without some love for the next-generation Archos 5, a super sweet Internet media tablet that includes everything but the kitchen sink.

Listen now: Download today's podcast

Subscribe in iTunes audio |  Subscribe in iTunes video | Subscribe in RSS audio |  Subscribe in RSS video

... Read more

All too easy--which is a good thing.

(Credit: Rapid Repair)

You know your gadget has truly made it when the folks at Rapid Repair take the time to carefully dissect it. After all, why waste an afternoon figuring out all the ways consumers might need to repair the Zune HD, if you don't think anyone's going to buy the thing.

Fortunately, it looks like the Zune HD lends itself well to any DIY repairs (unlike a certain competitor). To see the Zune HD's guts splayed like it's in some kind of technological slaughter house, check out our full tear-down gallery, courtesy of Rapid Repair.

Zune HD tear down--photos

It's time to rethink what you think you know about Zune.

(Credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft's Zune HD portable media player has been sitting in a sealed box on my desk for two weeks now. Don't worry, I haven't lost my professional fascination with portable media players. The only reason the box has stayed sealed is because the Zune HD is little more than a $219 paperweight if it doesn't have the Zune 4.0 software client to connect to.

The wait is finally over. As of this morning, Microsoft's free Zune 4.0 software is available for download. Perfect timing, too, since the Zune HD officially goes on sale today and with any luck, preorders will be dropping on the doorsteps.

So what's new in version 4.0? Well, there's a new look, a new opening Quickplay page (shown above), an updated store stocked with new HD movies, rentals, and TV shows, a Genius-like Smart DJ feature that can leverage your Zune Pass subscription for an unlimited on-demand music-streaming experience that makes Pandora look like child's play.

But perhaps the biggest part of the new Zune 4.0 experience is that Microsoft is giving Zune Pass music subscribers a way to stream music over the Web by logging into their Zune.net accounts on any Mac or PC. We're still a far cry from being able to sync a Zune with a Mac, but at least Zune Pass users can now dig into the Zune Marketplace's deep catalog and stream music wherever and whenever they want.

To see more of what the Zune 4.0 software has to offer, head over to our CNET slideshow.

Update: Some users are encountering software installation problems with the download package from Zune.net. For a more comprehensive software download (and larger file) you may want to try downloading from Microsoft's Download Center.

Zune 4.0 software--photos

The Zune Originals online store offers tons of colors and etching designs for the Zune HD.

You've held your tongue through all the Apple iPod propaganda. Resisted the temptation to put a stock, 32GB Zune HD on pre-order. You've scrimped and saved and patiently waited until the day when you could order your own unique blue, green, red, custom-etched, deluxe-packaged Zune Originals Zune HD.

Well, dear Zune-ster, that day has come. As of September 15, you can now log onto the Zune Originals online store and design your very own dream Zune HD. Beyond the two capacity options (16GB and 32GB), and five colors (black, platinum, green, blue, and red), you also get access to more than 50 etchings and the ability to inscribe your own personal message.

The downside to the whole Zune Originals option is that you're paying full price for your Zune HD, plus a few dollars more for some designs, and of course, there's shipping. But hey, what's a few extra bucks when it comes to letting your iPod-avoiding freak flag fly?

To get a better sense of the colors and designs available from Zune Originals, check out our hands-on photo gallery.

Zune HD Originals--photos

While confirming that the Zune HD now sports an Apps menu, Microsoft is being circumspect on just how extensive the collection of programs it plans to offer for the media player will be.

An eagle-eye user this weekend spotted an Apps menu on some of the devices being demonstrated at Best Buy outlets as part of a preview weekend. Microsoft suggested on Monday that the Apps menu and Zune Marketplace will be home to the types of games found on past Zunes but hedged on whether and when it might offer a broader selection of software.

Microsoft confirms its Zune HD will have an Apps menu, but is being far less clear on just what kinds of Apps it will have.

(Credit: Donald Bell/CNET)

"Games came pre-loaded on the current version of the device, but we made a decision to take them out of the firmware update and let people choose what games they want to have for themselves--and it made sense to do this via Marketplace," a representative told CNET News. "As before, games are free; the only difference is that people get to choose. Right now, we don't have anything further to say regarding Apps functionality beyond what we've already shared."

Early versions of the device seen by CNET News had a games menu, but the games were similar to the kinds of free games included in the past.

Microsoft suggested that the Apps menu, for the moment, might just be an outlet for such games. However, the company is clearly leaving the door open for much more.

"We have games on the Zune today and those will carry forward to Zune HD, but that's not where we'll necessarily stop," Microsoft said.

The Zune HD is slated to go on sale September 15, though Best Buy and Microsoft are also taking pre-orders for the product. A 16GB version will sell for $219, while a 32GB version is priced at $289.